‘TOUJOURS PERDRIX: Ww 
have seen men who must be described as good shots, 
even very good, but who are without it; they never 
seem to kill the bird at the right moment nor in the 
right way, and yet they will contribute their full share 
of the day’s total, and do as well as better men, unless 
exceptional opportunities or conditions give the latter 
their chance to show their superior quality. Let there 
come a really heavy rush of birds, lasting for some 
time, or a very queer light, or a heavy gale of wind, 
or all these three conditions combined, and these men 
will fall far behind our first-rate friend, so far that you 
would hardly believe the difference could be due to 
anything but luck, having seen them miss so little 
previously. 
The style of a first-rate man is unmistakable, 
difficult as it may be to define or describe. It is, no 
doubt, primarily due to a mixture of activity and 
strength, combining to assist exceptionally fine eye- 
sight. To these must be added, I think, some intel- 
lectual ability. I do not recollect an instance of a 
first-rate shot being a stupid man, nor do I see how 
he could be. A certain mathematical aptitude, which 
finds vent in calculation of distances and study of 
angles, is an essential ; and combined with this, and 
perhaps producing it, is a love of accuracy in all 
things. This latter quality assists the development 
